Kimonea Pitt has become the newest member of the Bermuda Bar, but she said her work had just started.

Ms Pitt, 24, told friends and family at her Call to the Bar ceremony: “This milestone event marks both an end and a beginning. I am eager to continue on my legal journey, striving each and every day to perfect my craft and better serve my clients and to live up to the high professional standards imposed upon me.

“I must acknowledge that it is not a right, but it is an esteemed honour and most importantly a privilege to practise law.”

Ms Pitt, speaking at the Supreme Court ceremony last Friday, said she had wanted to be a lawyer from a young age and had her heart set on law school when she left CedarBridge Academy.

She worked towards a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, although in her final year, her interest in the law was rekindled when she took two law modules.

She said: “I thoroughly enjoyed these classes and performed exceptionally well in both.

“I knew that becoming a lawyer would offer me a diverse career, where I would constantly be challenged in a stimulating intellectual environment and I was eager to embark on my legal studies.”

She continued to work towards her goal, but said success was not easy.

Ms Pitt explained: “There were many trials and tribulations along the way, from the stress, exam anxiety, countless hours of studying and each year having to face the uncertainty of whether I would be returning to England to continue my studies due to financial hardships.

“Through it all, I kept the end in view, and as a result of determination, hard work and sacrifices, I stand today as a true testament that anyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve great things.”

She thanked Sharon Beesley and Marco Montarsolo of BeesMont Law for their continuous support and her pupil master Stephanie Sanderson.

But she said her mother, Kimeka Wilson, deserved credit for her achievement.

Ms Pitt said: “This day could not have been possible without her. I don’t think I could ever put into words how truly grateful I am for the countless sacrifices she has made to see me to this point.

“Despite the financial hurdles we faced, my mom always kept the faith and did whatever she needed to do to ensure that I completed my studies.”

Ms Sanderson said Ms Pitt was someone who could accomplish anything she set her mind to and was always able to step up to a challenge.

She added that Ms Pitt also had a long history of giving back to the community.

Ms Sanderson said: “Kimonea has volunteered with the Eliza DoLittle Society on numerous occasions.

“Impressively, last year Kimonea, along with two of her friends, started an annual ‘Christmas Giving’ event through which they prepared packages that contained homemade food and a handwritten Christmas card that they personally delivered to homeless people in the City of Hamilton.

“Kimonea has also volunteered as a driver to transport people home from the Cornerstone Christmas Store, which is held by the Cornerstone Foundation each year.”

Mr Montarsolo, managing partner at BeesMont, said: “We are proud to welcome Kimonea to BeesMont Law as an associate in our corporate department, particularly after having Kimonea as a student at the firm for several years.

“We have been impressed by her attitude, professionalism and understanding of the law and look forward to watching Kimonea’s career develop.“